Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

John259

Google is saying US$350 = UK£235 at the moment (29-Mar-15) and the south rim plane trip web site says their cost is FROM £212 per person plus US$15 per person fuel surcharge. It would be interesting to know how the real final costs compare bearing in mind whether there are reductions for children (if that applies in your case) and whether sales tax is included or not.

Of course, you may well feel that the helicopter experience and landing near the river is of more value to you than the superior scenery of the national park. Fair enough, it's a personal decision and it looks like you're going into it in some depth and researching what you're buying.

moreofthegoodstuff

Its really hard to decide what to do, it wouldn't be so bad if it was just for my husband and I, but booking for another two people as well and trying to find a reasonable trip for a reasonable price is tough, plus I worry that we get out there and find we should have booked over there!

John259

That Hermits Rest Road video I linked to earlier gives you a very good idea of the views to be had in the national park. To add to that, here's StreetView at the Powell Point shuttle bus stop (in the national park, on the Hermits Rest Road). You can click on the image to walk along the path out to the point, and drag the image to turn and tilt the camera to look around to see the views:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Powell+Point,+Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.072269,-112.152195&spn=0.006287,0.013078&sll=37.6,-95.665&sspn=49.738899,107.138672&oq=powell+point&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=36.072269,-112.152195&panoid=cPxcewbbiJnGf0Rgj-u3Fg&cbp=12,336.24,,0,9.82

For comparison, here's a video of a helicopter trip from Las Vegas to the West Rim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJkSwqIc84

And here's a video which attempts to compare the West Rim with the South Rim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGhA-C-IUNE

martmonk

There's an offer on living social at the min for helicopter trips. I've not looked at it in detail but you may want to.

EDIT - scratch that. It's for heli tour of red rock canyon and strip.

Might be interesting for some nonetheless.

https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/1325148-night-helicopter-tour-for-three-of-the-vegas-strip

Yinster

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

http://www.papillon.com/las-vegas-tours/helicopter-landing-tours/grand-celebration-tour

We used this company when we wanted a helicopter ride. Picked up from our hotel to the airfield. Then giving a brief before being called to your pilot. I think when we went the company had 6 helicopters in total going at the same time.

Helicopter takes six people in total. If you are in a group of 4 you will be most likely in the back of the helicopter unless you pay extra for the front. We were lucky to be just us two and team up with a group of four so we got to sit in the front without the extra cost. Of course it also depends on everyone's weight to balance the helicopter.

We had a total of about 30 minutes in the canyon to enjoy the surrounding and have our breakfast. Our pilot was informative and good fun. Took us a different route back which was nice.

It is expensive but well worth the money. I too didn't want to waste time on a bus so this was ideal. By the time we got back it was brunch time and more time to explore Las Vegas.

Brats64

Haven't been on here in a while..so maybe already been posted,but when did Lowcost usa start to completely exclude resort fees from the hotel price.
Just started to look at hotels for Octobers trip,and was suprised to see every hotel said excludes resort fee.While their prices aren't bad still,it was the inclusion of resort fees that was the selling point to me.

martmonk

Brats64 wrote: »

Haven't been on here in a while..so maybe already been posted,but when did Lowcost usa start to completely exclude resort fees from the hotel price.
Just started to look at hotels for Octobers trip,and was suprised to see every hotel said excludes resort fee.While their prices aren't bad still,it was the inclusion of resort fees that was the selling point to me.

In the last two weeks - I noticed on Sunday. It's got me kicking myself as I was tracking and comparing a few sites for our trip in June.

Seldom_Seen_Kid

I wonder if it is the hotels making the decision, and not lowcost, as Thomas Cook will exclude resort fees as of tomorrow.

Brats64

It's not like resort fees are "a little extra" to be paid off your credit card bill when you get home.
5-7 days in most hotels and you can add on an extra £80 -£120 to pay.
Hardly insignificant.

martmonk

There was discussion on this a few pages back and (stuie I think) suggested that the included fees were available to the likes of lowcostusa through one or two US based agents. Perhaps their agreements with either the hotels, or the sites serving the uk have ceased.